Payback time for Destiny USA's Bob Congel, letter-writers say

Dick Blume/The Post Standard NEW YORK STATE Lt. Govenor Robert Duffy (left) talking to Bob Congel after he spoke about the New York State budget at LeMoyne College.

Congel reneged on promises
and must pay money back
To the Editor:
I relocated from Central New York to the Kansas City area in July 2010 for a new job. Since that time, I have been unable to sell my townhouse in Manlius, so I made the decision to rent it out.

Because of this, I will owe the Internal Revenue Service the $7,500 the government loaned me under the First Time Homebuyer Act. I reneged on my promise to the federal government to continue to live in the home.

The Post-Standard reported Feb. 20 that Bob Congel planned to send a letter to the IRS asking that a $2.3 million penalty and interest rate increase be forgiven, despite reneging on his promises to build Destiny USA.

I’m going to pay the $7,500 I owe. I think Congel should pay up too.

Brian Foster
Overland Park

Congel hoodwinked us and now must pay taxes like rest of us
To the Editor:
Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, said it right. “If you are going to renege on the promise, then you owe the IRS the money back.That’s the way it goes for any average taxpayer and that is absolutely how it should go for this mall developer. He shouldn’t get a break.”

I couldn’t agree more! This man has hoodwinked us from Day One! There is nothing “green” about that mall. The only thing green is his pockets. He took the city of Syracuse for a ride and he was laughing all the way to the bank.

Well now, Congel, it’s payback time. Start paying the taxes that you owe to this city. Syracuse could sure use the money. And by the way, if you do owe the IRS money, pay them too.

Peg Marani
Syracuse

Stop tax loopholes for rich
like Destiny’s Bob Congel
To the Editor:
So the great entertainment “destination,” Destiny, is in danger of losing its green bonds because of inaction on Robert Congel’s part. Anyone willing to bet that he’ll keep them?

Between the green bonds, the Empire Zone (which he shouldn’t qualify for either) and a lucrative 30-year tax deal (45 years for the original mall, which already has a 15-year tax deal), Congel stands to easily make over $600 million on the deal and still hasn’t completed anything.

Think it’s time we cancel the 30-year deal (oh, I know Pyramid might sue the city, heavens!) or at least return the original mall to the tax rolls. I don’t understand why Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner and SIDA say the original mall can’t be added to the tax roster even if the 30-year deal is negated.

That mall’s tax deal is over (coincidentally about the time the negotiations for the new 30-year deal started) so if this new PILOT program is negated for not meeting the deadlines supposedly put in place to “protect” the taxpayers, shouldn’t the property as it stands take a rightful place as a taxable property?

Given the economic status of the city and this state, can we afford to let these things linger? We’re just continuing to improve tax benefits and loopholes for the very rich on the backs of what used to be called the middle class.

Miner and the common council need to start seriously considering this.